Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

So I don't say anything.

The silence stretches between us until he finally mutters, "Goodnight, Taryn."

And then the call ends.

I lower the phone from my ear, staring at the screen like it might give me some

kind of answer. But it doesn't.

I let out a breath and lean back against the edge of the bed, pressing my head

against the mattress.

The world feels heavier than usual.

And for the first time in a long time—

I feel completely, utterly lost.

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53

I stare up at the ceiling, my back pressed against the cold floor, the documents

still sprawled around me. My chest is tight, my thoughts tangled. I should do

something-keep digging, make another call, chase the truth until I bleed for it.

But instead, I just fucking lie here.

I close my eyes. Breathe. Try not to think about him. Try not to think about the

weight of his hand on my skin, the way his voice curled around my name like it

belonged to him. Like I belonged to him.

It doesn't work.

The memory slithers in, uninvited.

I shove it down.

A loud bang makes me jolt up. My door flies open like it owes someone money,

and then there's Zoe-her arms stacked with dresses, a piece of bread jammed

between her teeth, eyes wide and full of untamed chaos. "The fuck-?" I scramble, sweeping the stolen documents off the floor in a panic,

shoving them under my bed like I'm thirteen and hiding contraband from a strict

parent.

Zoe stomps in, completely unbothered. "You," she says through a mouthful of

bread, pointing at me like I've personally offended her ancestors. "Are going out."

I blink. "The hell I am."

"Yes. The hell you are." She marches over, slamming the dresses onto my bed.

The hangers clatter against each other. "Because you need it. Desperately."

I exhale sharply, rubbing my temples. "Zoe, I'm not in the mood for some-"I motion

vaguely at the dresses, at her overly

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11:54 Tue, 25 M

Chapter 76

determined expression. "-whatever the fuck this is."

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+53)

"Oh, I know," she says, too sweetly. "That's why I'm forcing you. Because if I don't,

batshit crazy

refuse to let that

like being a

her hands on her hips, tilting her head like she's about

Ted Talk on how to stop being at

need to clear your head. And what better way to do that than by

something physical?"

narrow my eyes.

She grins, all teeth.

I

knew I

step inside, the air changes-charged, thick with

It smells like leather, metal, and aggression. The overhead

jagged shadows across the

entire place feels like a well-dressed crime scene. Music blasts through

by the sounds of fists slamming into flesh, grunts

referees

a goddamn underground

turn to

She smiles innocently.

dragged me to an illegal fight

she corrects. "Not

her. Then the

fuck is

groans, waving a dismissive hand.

and I figured what

deep voice cuts

you when she

I whip around.

ring, arms crossed, expression as unreadable

ever-is Jacob Wyatt.

I blink. Hard.

to Zoe. "You

Zoe shrugs. "Guilty"

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Tue, 25 Mar

Chapter 76

hands up. "What the actual

says casually, like

turn back to him. "Someone is

Jacob smirks. "Fighting."

"For what?"

doesn't answer. He just looks at me. And then

And

way his gaze

stomach

drop.

horrible, sinking feeling crawls up my spine. "Jacob," I

fighting

He doesn't reply.

Just smiles.

then I hear

voice, cutting through the thick air like

the match

erupts. The

81%8

Two fighters are already inside-one English, one

then, without warning, they brutalize each

It's not a sport.

It's war.

guy lands a hook to the

swear I feel it. The

him

My stomach churns.

normal fight. This is barely

hiss. "I

yet," she urges, grabbing my arm. "Just... wait. Trust

don't fucking

knockout. The Italian

The crowd goes wild.

the announcer's

unlike any you've seen

The lights cut out.